Sports Writer

Greg Ritchie during his playing days on the 1985 Ashes tour. Photo: Getty Images

Former Test batsman Greg Ritchie has defended himself against claims of racist and anti-Muslim comments at a Brisbane Test luncheon, refusing to apologise and saying: "If they take offence that's their choice."

The ex-Australian player and television personality was attacked for using the forbidden "k-word" during a lunchtime speech at the Brisbane Cricket Ground Trust members dining room on day one of the first Test against South Africa on Friday. He also made disparaging remarks about Islamic people in the address, South Africa's Sunday Times reported.

"I've got nothing against the Muslim people," Ritchie was reported as saying on Friday. "Just this morning I had to try and stop three little Muslim boys trying to break the lock on my car boot. "I had to say, 'Shut up! You're in there for a reason!'"

Ritchie as Mahatma Cote.

On Sunday, Ritchie told Fairfax: "That's a joke that I use, and I'll continue to use it. It's just a little humourous joke to indicate that they're not my favourite people of my choice. If they take offence that's their choice."

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Ritchie also defended himself against the accusations of racism by using the word "kaffir" in the lunchtime address.

"Hey Kepler, you're not going to call this lot kaffirs today, are you," the Queenslander was reported as saying in reference to his former teammate Kepler Wessels, who during the 1980s could not play for his native South Africa due to their international ban. Wessels has threatened legal action.

"It's a joke I've used 500 times," Ritchie said on Sunday. "It's a reference to us playing against the West Indies [in a match for Queensland against the West Indies in 1980] and I say to him 'You wouldn't use that word against these guys would you?'. I am not saying that Kepler said that word at all."

"It is to emphasise the fear I had playing against the West Indies. It is a shocking term and it relays the great fear that we all had about facing the West Indies bowling.

"It's disappointing to think this has become an issue. I do a lot of public speaking around the world and I tell the story all the time.

A Cricket Australia spokesman indicated Ritchie was not welcome at the country's cricket grounds as a result of the speech but said they had refrained from officially banning him.

"Cricket Australia is of the view that it's not appropriate for Greg to be at our cricket venues at this time," he said.

"There is absolutely no place for racism in sport on or off the field. We're fully supportive of the ICC's anti-racism policy on cricket. A senior official from Cricket Australia has contacted Greg, who has confirmed the content of that speech.

"We've made it clear that his comments were absolutely unacceptable. We're going to take the opportunity to write to all our states and venues to remind them of the obligations under the ICC anti-racism policy in terms of speakers and what they should be advising speakers at their venues."

Wessels, in Brisbane in a commentary capacity with the South African network SuperSport, told the Sunday Times he may take legal action against the 52-year-old.

"That's a disgraceful, offensive and libellous comment to make," Wessels said. "It's certainly not what I'm about and everyone who knows me will know that. I have no idea what he might be referring to - I haven't even spoken to him since the early '80s."

Ritchie was also booked as a guest speaker by Queensland Cricket for its annual pre-Test luncheon at the Brisbane Convention Centre last Wednesday, in which he also recounted anecdotes about Wessels.

On Friday he is also alleged to have also made offensive remarks about Pakistan, and its former captain Imran Khan.

"There's a place in Pakistan called Lahore. There weren't many of them [whores] around when we were there in 1982, I can tell you."

About Imran, he reportedly said: "He's an absolute knob is Imran Khan, that's the only way to describe him."

South Africa team manager Mohammed Moosajee told the Sunday Times: "If that is what was uttered, it is both disappointing and despicable for someone to make these racist comments. Racism has no place in society and in sport."

Ritchie previously stretched boundaries with his portrayal of the Punjabi character Mahatma Cote on the NRL Footy Show.